Pot apparently stolen from house; victims end up arrested

Published: Saturday, October 26, 2013 at 6:19 p.m.

Last Modified: Saturday, October 26, 2013 at 6:19 p.m.

Six men, reportedly dressed in law enforcement gear, kicked in the door of a Silver Springs Shores house on Friday evening that turned out to be a suspected marijuana grow house.

Three people inside the home at 15 Willow Road were tied up while the six armed men removed what were believed to be marijuana plants from the house, according to Marion County Sheriff’s Office reports.

A neighbor saw the men kick in the door to the home and then load large items into a van, deputies said. The neighbor said at least one of the men had a vest emblazoned with the word “police” and she said she saw badges on the men, who also had gun holsters strapped to their thighs, reports state.

She thought it odd and called the Sheriff’s Office, which responded to the house and found Marilin Meneses, 40, of Miami, William Gumbs, 42, and Pedro Rafael Sanchez, 21, of Ocala.

An unspecified amount of marijuana was later found in the home and the three were arrested.

Meneses said the three were looking for a party in the area when they stopped to ask the men dressed as police for directions. She said the men ordered them out of their vehicle and into the home, reports state.

Gumbs refused to talk to law enforcement.

Sanchez reportedly said they were all in the house doing “work” when the men barged in and tied their hands behind their backs with plastic ties. Sanchez said he did not see what the men took, other than a television, deputies said.

Sanchez said he and the other two victims freed themselves and were not going to report the incident. He and Meneses said they did not want to pursue charges against the men if they were found. A search for the van apparently used in the incident was unsuccessful.

Meneses, Gumbs and Sanchez were booked into the Marion County Jail. Meneses and Gumbs were charged with trafficking of marijuana in excess of 25 pounds. Meneses was being held at the jail in lieu of a $50,000 bond. Gumbs was released Saturday evening after posting bail.

Sanchez was charged with cultivation of marijuana and was released early Saturday morning.

<p>Six men, reportedly dressed in law enforcement gear, kicked in the door of a Silver Springs Shores house on Friday evening that turned out to be a suspected marijuana grow house.</p><p>Three people inside the home at 15 Willow Road were tied up while the six armed men removed what were believed to be marijuana plants from the house, according to Marion County Sheriff's Office reports.</p><p>A neighbor saw the men kick in the door to the home and then load large items into a van, deputies said. The neighbor said at least one of the men had a vest emblazoned with the word “police” and she said she saw badges on the men, who also had gun holsters strapped to their thighs, reports state.</p><p>She thought it odd and called the Sheriff's Office, which responded to the house and found Marilin Meneses, 40, of Miami, William Gumbs, 42, and Pedro Rafael Sanchez, 21, of Ocala.</p><p>An unspecified amount of marijuana was later found in the home and the three were arrested.</p><p>Meneses said the three were looking for a party in the area when they stopped to ask the men dressed as police for directions. She said the men ordered them out of their vehicle and into the home, reports state.</p><p>Gumbs refused to talk to law enforcement.</p><p>Sanchez reportedly said they were all in the house doing “work” when the men barged in and tied their hands behind their backs with plastic ties. Sanchez said he did not see what the men took, other than a television, deputies said.</p><p>Sanchez said he and the other two victims freed themselves and were not going to report the incident. He and Meneses said they did not want to pursue charges against the men if they were found. A search for the van apparently used in the incident was unsuccessful.</p><p>Meneses, Gumbs and Sanchez were booked into the Marion County Jail. Meneses and Gumbs were charged with trafficking of marijuana in excess of 25 pounds. Meneses was being held at the jail in lieu of a $50,000 bond. Gumbs was released Saturday evening after posting bail.</p><p>Sanchez was charged with cultivation of marijuana and was released early Saturday morning.</p>